HWANGE - Hwange continued with their fairytale start to the 2014 Castle Premiership season with a remarkable and dramatic 3-2 win over FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium over the weekend.
The coal miners fell behind early and went into halftime trailing 2-0 after goals from Mitchell Katsvairo and a penalty from Qadr Amini.
Hwange, however, emerged for the second half a transformed side and produced a tremendous performance to score three goals to win the match.
Fullback Erick Chipeta was the architect of all the three goals that ensured the coalminers maintained their position on top of the log with a maximum six points from two games.
The Warriors defender, whose dead ball specialty came to the fore at Mandava, provided the assist for the first goal when his corner kick from the left found Alick Marime, who reduced the deficit with a header 10 minutes after the rrstart.
In the 77th minute, Chipangano were level courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Chipeta, who scored the equaliser straight from a corner kick.
The fullback has forged a reputation of carrying a wicked delivery from set pieces and on Saturday he took that capability to another level.
Chipeta’s in-swinging corner kick eluded everyone inside the box including FC Platinum midfielder Simon Shoko who was standing at the far post and goalkeeper Talbert Shumba as it nestled into the net.
With the match destined for a draw in the last minute of added time, Hwange won a corner kick and Chipeta swung in another pin point cross which created a lot of havoc inside the Platinum box.
The ball cannoned off the upright before Marime acrobatically turned it in for his brace and earn Hwange the three points.
“This was a memorable match for me. I will forever cherish this match because coming from 2-0 down away from home is not easy especially when you are up against a team like FC Platinum,” Chipeta said after the match.
“Scoring from the corner kick was not a fluke because I used to do it at junior level but it’s only that it was not been given prominence.
“It’s also good that the way I did this time around has given me prominence as a good dead ball specialist which I have always been.
“We kept telling each other in the dressing room at halftime that we still have a chance to come back and that belief carried the day for us.
“I’m glad that we started the season well because I have always wanted to give Hwange something to smile about because they gave me a platform to showcase myself. I don’t see myself playing for another local team except Hwange.”
Hwange coach Nation Dube was thrilled with his side’s show of character but refused to be carried away with the two wins that his club has notched.
“Its work in progressing we are building a team and we are taking each game as it comes. We wanted a good start and things are falling into place but there is still a lot of work to do but credit should also go to the players for showing character to come back and win the match,” said Dube.
Hwange are the only team to have recorded two wins in the opening two matches of the season and they are also the highest scorers with eight goals following their 5-1 win over Buffaloes in the opening game of the season.